This list covers the following areas birded by James M. Black and Jim Sipiora
in the S.E. region of Venezuela and the state of Bolivar.

This was my first visit to Venezuela and Jim’s second. Several years ago,
Jim had spent time birding in H. Pittier Nat. Park.

The trip began with my afternoon arrival to Caracas from Quito, Ecuador.
I found Jim waiting for me as planned in the airport, we next found our flight
to Puerto Ordaz located in the state of Bolivar.

From Puerto Ordaz, Jim and I rented a Fiat Uno from Hertz at the airport.
The car was new and in excellent shape. After wheeling and dealing over the
price for a 14 day rental with a shiester of a woman at the counter,
we headed south.
I strongly recommend that one deals with the rental car scenario in Venezuela
with a Spanish speaker.

We encountered no problems with the car nor any other logistics throughout
our trip.

As we embarked on our journey, Jim and I drove south to Cachami falls for
a brief visit and then to Upata and the Hotel Andrea for the evening. I was
surprised to see so much dry thorn-forest still in tact along our route.
The following day, we rose early and birded a road adjacent to the highway
going north from Upata for dry forest birds. Upon turning around to head
back south, we visited a marsh along side the highway just north of
Upata.

We next continued south on highway Bolivar 1 to Las Claritas. A warm six-hour
drive with plenty of birding stops along the way. We would then spend the
next 8 nights (6 at Barquilla de Fresa and 2 at Hotel Pilionera) in the environs
of Las Claritas. Henry’s (B. de Fresa) was very nice and comfortable, but
very over-priced at $80 U.S. per night per person with meals.
The Pilionera was very basic, but clean and sufficient for non-yuppy birders
at $14 U.S. for a double with A/C. There is a decent restaurant across the
road. We covered the vicinity of Las Claritas including the Cappuchinbird
road at Km. 88 (across from the only bank in the area), the Escalera and
Km. 67 Guyana trail and environs. After departing Las Claritas, we then headed
north to El Palmar exiting right from the main highway to Villa Lola and
El Palmar. Along this route were several large ponds with excellent birding
en route to El Palmar. Jim and I spent three hours birding the ponds in the
heat of the day and the birds never stopped coming. We spent four nights
at the Parador Taguapire which we found to be clean, quiet and had good food.

While in the area, our target area was the Imataca preserve which had superb
birding.

It is a very interesting area lying on the rift of the dry region and wet
lowland rain forest.

For those wishing to visit this spectacular birding area in Venezuela, I
recommend avoiding the high costs of the Venezuelan Audubon society and other
agencies aiming to book birder’s accommodations - they will over charge you
like crazy!

If one were to take a chance and go without reservations, they stand a fairly
good chance of finding a room at the above mentioned hotels or others in
the vicinity, at a fraction of the price charged by agents.

Mary Lou Goodwin’s guide came in handy, but one should also download as much
current info. as possible from the internet.Blake’s field note repository
offered a very useful selection of field trip notes for this area.

KEY

U – Upata and environs. Dry thorn forest and arid savannah with occasional
ponds at 240ft. This also describes 2/3 of drive south to about El Dorado
and the rio Cuyuni where the habitat changes to lowland rainforest.

I – Imataca preserve - lowland rain forest (primary and secondary growth)
and completely deforested areas and fields now used for agriculture and cattle
grazing. This region is on a rift with dry thorn forest to the west
& northwest. 200 - 450ft.

VL –Villa Lola ponds (3). Three separate ponds of significant size i.e. 1.5
to 15 hectares define this area. These are: 1.5 Km. From the Villa Lola exit
from Bolivar Highway #1. The largest pond is split by the Villa Lola road.
A smaller pond is approx. 1Km. NW from here and is reached by the same road.